We have designed this tool with a 360 degree view of who might find it useful

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has launched the “Ask Us” online service that will provide people access to privacy advice at all times.

“We have designed this tool with a 360 degree view of who might find it useful,” says Privacy Commissioner John Edwards, in a statement.

“It can assist anyone from individuals to small business operators to people working within government agencies who need privacy information in a timely way. We will also enhance the content on an ongoing basis.

“Last year, our office took over 8000 enquiries from the public through our 0800 phone line and via email. We also received nearly 300 media enquiries on a wide range of topics including data breaches, the Harmful Digital Communications Act, drones, and public registers.

“We believe this is a leading model that is available to be shared with other public sector agencies that are also on the Common Web Platform. People will be able to access information that is relevant to them in a convenient way without having to join a phone queue to a call centre,” says Edwards.

SilverStripe provides the Common Web Platform for New Zealand’s public sector agencies in conjunction with the Department of Internal Affairs. The platform enables agencies to more quickly and cost-effectively build and manage websites.

“‘Ask Us’ is a great example of an initiative from a crown agency that understands that digital channels can make a broad and complex issue like privacy easier for people to understand and deal with,” says Antony Dixon, head of sales at SilverStripe.

“The Common Web Platform we have developed, combined with SilverStripe’s agile approach and public sector experience, allows agencies like the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to develop and modify these kind of online channels much faster and more cost-effectively than in the past,” says Dixon.

SilverStripe won the ‘Best Technology Solution for the Public Sector’ award at the 2016 New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards for its work developing and supporting the Common Web Platform.

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